bio

"A standout presence in the small acoustic ensemble is guitarist Daniel Zimmerman, whose rock-informed drive and pensive, billowing chords do much to shape the identity of “Secrecy” and other tracks. The Dead Man is a triumph of consummate musicianship and the spirit of innovation unleashed.”

Mark Holston. LatinoMagazine.com

BIO

Dan Zimmerman decided to devote his life to playing guitar when he was seven years old. One of his friends put Kiss’s new album, Love Gun, on the turn table, and the guitar had him hooked.Dan’s list of favorite guitar players soon expanded well beyond Ace Frehley: John Scofield, Eddie Van Halen and Joe Pass were some of his favorites. After playing in high school rock bands, he studied classical guitar at UC Santa Barbara and jazz at Berklee College of Music in Boston. At UCSB Dan played in Evil Farmer, a rock/jam bandknown for spontaneous, creative and sometimes disastrous improvisations. They shared the bill at festivals and clubs with many other bands, including ALO who Dan sometimes guests with to this day.

Dan has played guitar professionally in Santa Barbara for more than 20 years. He has performed and recordedwith numerous bands on the south coast including Raw Silk, Spencer the Gardner, Roy Galloway---backup singer for Marvin Gaye--- and the internationally renowned Latin Jazz artists Teka and Luis Munoz. Playing in these different settings has given Dan an appreciation for many styles of music. He brings a Jazz musician’s enthusiasm for improvisation to the excitement of rock and the friendly openness of blues and folk.

In the mid-nineties Dan metBucket Baker, drummer for Kenny Logins and Michael Jackson, and formed Common Ground, featuring Dan’s instrumental jazz/fusion compositions. During the nineties Dan also formed a group with Cougar Estrada from Los Lobos. They wrote songs together and Dan performed on the first Conga Punks record.

Dan regularly does studiowork. Some notable sessions are with chart toping smooth jazz act 3rd Force, New York Jazz trumpeter Nate Birkey, and keyboardist Jay Ferguson from the classic rock band Spirit. Dan also produced albums for Leslie Lembo and Michael G.

A respected guitar instructor for more than 20 years, Dan has written several articles for Guitar PlayerMagazine and for the website truefire.com. He also maintains a roster of private students who he teaches in person and through online video chats.

Dan currently performs and records with international jazz artist Luis Munoz. He received critical acclaim on the album Voz and on Luis' latest album The Dead Man. Dan has also just released a CD of his original compositions called Drifting Home.